The Blue Screen of Death

Phantom Pain

81 wrote:

Phantom Pain wrote:

I can't think of the software right now but there is a nice program for transferring files to the external hard drive. Makes it really easy.

windows explorer

is there a middle finger emoticon ?

:x

LikeAnOcean

Phantom Pain wrote:

Gob wrote:

discs are the least reliable. I've had some that have lasted for years, but they do degrade over time, especially if stored in bad conditions. Experts say you should get 2 to 5 years out of them. I know people who have had burned discs fine for 15+ years, but they are chancing it.



Really, your data will not last forever. Sorry! You probably won't be showing your grandchildren your digital photos, unless you have them stored in a vacuum or something.

Have you tried any of the online storage websites ? I assume its guaranteed to back everything up

I'm only using an external hard drive currently

Thats probably your best bet as far as security.. just hope a natural disaster doesn't hit the site. 8-)

81

brianlux

faceintheclouds wrote:

Stupid question, but how do you go about backing your files up. Cause I'd have the exact same conversation. Like do yOu back them up on another pc or an external hard drive or sumpin?

One computer geek friend told me to back things up with an online back up service. Another told me, no use an external drive. And another semi-computer geek friend said just use a thumb drive. Yet another said put it on a disc. Talk about confusing! I think I'll probably print out a hard copy of things I really want saved (like my writing) on the blank back side of used paper and put them in my fireproof safe. A good way to recycle and have a sure fire back up.

Phantom Pain

81 wrote:

_

brianlux wrote:

Gob wrote:

Do this.. buy an enclosure kit. Take your hard drive out and hook it up to the kit. Plug it into another PC and see if you can transfer over any of the data. You might be able to grab some of it if the hard drive doesn't always fail. The OS might just be corrupt too.

Thanks, Gob. I'm not very computer savvy so what you suggested is a bit unclear to me. I would no more know how to remove my hard drive than I would know how to remove my appendix (not that I need to, they're gone ) The folks who looked at my computer have a very good reputation here in town and seem to be very knowledgeable. They told me there is little chance of getting my data retrieval for under $500 and may cost as much as $1500. I realized a few minutes ago that I also lost some forms I'd created for my business. I can make them again but Excel is such a pain in the ass.

So this has been yet another big life lesson (though there's a part of me thinking I'm too old for this shit). It'll all work out. WORK being the operative word. :crazy:

I can't say it enough- back it up!!

Man, that really sucks! I feel your pain. But I would encourage you to not give up yet. I don't think the computer folks you spoke with were bullshitting you or anything, but sometimes a good computer geek friend can help you out for much cheaper, as many here have already said. When I had the same problem, my sister was able to retrieve much of my data for me by doing something like what Gob suggested above.

_

These error message haikus helped me through my mourning period after my hard drive died:

Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.

- Peter Rothman

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes, and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.

- David Dixon

ABORTED effort:
Close all that you have.
You ask far too much.

- Mike Hagler

A crash reduces
your expensive computer
to a simple stone.

- James Lopez

Yesterday it worked.
Today it is not working
Windows is like that.

- Margaret Segall

Seeing my great fault
Through darkening blue windows
I begin again

- Chris Walsh

The code was willing,
It considered your request,
But the chips were weak.

- Barry L. Brumitt

To have no errors
Would be life without meaning
No struggle, no joy

- Brian M. Porter

Login incorrect.
Only perfect spellers may
enter this system.

- Jason Axley

Sorrow in my heart,
Bad sectors on your hard drive,
Dead leaves on the ground.

- Cheryl Walker

Spring will come again,
But it will not bring with it
Any of your files.

- Cheryl Walker

The blue screen of death,
Fatal to OS; take the time
to gaze at blue sky.

- Cheryl Walker

brianlux

_ wrote:

These error message haikus helped me through my mourning period after my hard drive died:

Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.

- Peter Rothman

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes, and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.

- David Dixon

ABORTED effort:
Close all that you have.
You ask far too much.

- Mike Hagler

A crash reduces
your expensive computer
to a simple stone.

- James Lopez

Yesterday it worked.
Today it is not working
Windows is like that.

- Margaret Segall

Seeing my great fault
Through darkening blue windows
I begin again

- Chris Walsh

The code was willing,
It considered your request,
But the chips were weak.

- Barry L. Brumitt

To have no errors
Would be life without meaning
No struggle, no joy

- Brian M. Porter

Login incorrect.
Only perfect spellers may
enter this system.

- Jason Axley

Sorrow in my heart,
Bad sectors on your hard drive,
Dead leaves on the ground.

- Cheryl Walker

Spring will come again,
But it will not bring with it
Any of your files.

- Cheryl Walker

The blue screen of death,
Fatal to OS; take the time
to gaze at blue sky.

- Cheryl Walker

These are excellent. Thanks!

Jennytree

brianlux wrote:

They told me there is little chance of getting my data retrieval for under $500 and may cost as much as $1500.

:shock: WHAT?! Fuckin' hell, I'm in the wrong job! There are free tools you can use to try and get data off of a FUBAR'd drive. Do you know anyone who works in IT support who would do it for free? If you were my friend, I would

Dissidentman

capthowdy1027 wrote:

Maybe try reinstalling Windows on it before giving up. A blue screen of death doesn't for sure mean hard drive failure.

This

Just don't format. REPAIR

rick1zoo2

Phantom Pain wrote:

faceintheclouds wrote:

Stupid question, but how do you go about backing your files up. Cause I'd have the exact same conversation. Like do yOu back them up on another pc or an external hard drive or sumpin?

If you buy an external hard drive you connect it to your current PC through the USB connection or you can burn files to a disk if you have a burner.

I can't think of the software right now but there is a nice program for transferring files to the external hard drive. Makes it really easy.

Free one from Microsoft called SyncToy. I have it set up to make the external HD a mirror copy of the folders I want from the PC HD, so anything that is changed on the PC (new files, changed files, deleted files, etc.) will be mirrored onto the external HD. Works great.

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/de ... x?id=15155

stargirl69

Exact thing happened to me,photo's thousands of hours of music ... I was gutted,all those memories,especially the photo's that could never be replaced.

Ironically,and stupidly I have still not worked out how to "back up" on my new computer :oops:

iamica

I despise the blue screen of death. We got it quite frequently on our old computer, to the point where we broke down and bought a new one. I never want to see it again.

_

Okay, I have a question. I received the blue screen today and it's not the first time I've gotten it on this relatively new POS Dell laptop, so I'm getting more serious about being better at backing up my files. What method do y'all recommend? Is online better than an external hard drive? The problems with using an external drive, which is my current method, are that I have to actually take the initiative to use it (which I do less frequently than I should) and that I'd lose it too in the event of a fire or something. But I know nothing about the world of online back-up. Is it secure? Is it expensive? Does it take forever? You can get online back-up that backs up your computer automatically, right? Is there a particular service that's better than the others? Thanks!

brother123

It amazes me that there are people who don't know the basics of computing

_

brother123 wrote:

It amazes me that there are people who don't know the basics of computing

Thanks. That's super-helpful.

rollings

brother123 wrote:

It amazes me that there are people who don't know the basics of computing

It amazes me that there are people who don't know the basics of not being a dickhead.

Thoughts_Arrive

Rollings wrote:

brother123 wrote:

It amazes me that there are people who don't know the basics of computing

It amazes me that there are people who don't know the basics of not being a dickhead.

It amazes me that there are people that know the basics of being amazed.

rollings

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

Rollings wrote:

brother123 wrote:

It amazes me that there are people who don't know the basics of computing

It amazes me that there are people who don't know the basics of not being a dickhead.

It amazes me that there are people that know the basics of being amazed.

I suppose that being amazed is amazing. Then I agree!

brother123

_ wrote:

brother123 wrote:

It amazes me that there are people who don't know the basics of computing

Thanks. That's super-helpful.

Look if you can't find the initiative to use a external hard drive than I don't know what you will or won't do.

http://www.dropbox.com/ check that out.

http://www.practicalecommerce.com/artic ... rage-Sites that can give you some insight

Really just do research via google. i hope that this dickhead has give some useful information